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Bison attack man who jumped fence, tried to pet them at Land Between the Lakes

A buffalo calf roams among the herd at the South Bison Range at Land Between the Lakes in Tennessee on Memorial Day weekend 2016.

Bison once roamed freely in this area. Today, most live in captivity. The Elk and Bison Prairie at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is home to a herd of 49 bison.(Photo: Leaf-Chronicle files)

A man was injured by bison inside a restricted area of Land Between the Lakes after climbing a fence and walking up to them. It happened July 4 at the South Bison Range.

"He climbed the fence and walked over to a group of bison, a pretty large group," of seven or eight, said LBL spokesman Chris Joyner. "According to a witness, it appeared he was going to touch one. He got to within 5 to 10 feet and at least one charged him."

Staff and passersby helped the man after he made it back to the fence and collapsed inside. A bystander broke the gate to get him out, and they began giving him first aid until help could arrive.

The 37-year-old man was treated by Stewart County Emergency Medical Services and transported by helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville where he was in stable condition Friday. His name was not released, Joyner said.

“We continue to stress to the public that bison and elk are wild animals," said Curtis Fowler, wildlife technician at Land Between the Lakes. “Bison will aggressively protect their calves by confronting any perceived threat.Their sharp horns and hooves are unforgiving, and they can react surprisingly fast.”

Fowler encouraged the public to use this incident as a reminder to never enter restricted wildlife enclosures.

There are two bison enclosures at Land Between the Lakes.The South Bison Range offers limited viewing from the Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway.The Elk and Bison Prairie offers an opportunity to drive through and observe animals in their native habitat from the safety of their vehicle.